Book Launch: Democracy’s Double Helix

On Monday 27 October, Beatrice de Graaf and Henk Kummeling (both Utrecht University) will present and discuss the new book Democracy’s Double Helix. Participation, Equality and Revolution in Early Modern Europe, written by Lars Behrisch (Utrecht University). The book explores the historical roots of modern democracy to better understand the nature of our democracy and its current crisis.

Democracy’s historical roots

Democracy’s Double Helix shows how medieval traditions of elite participation and the later idea of individual equality only came together in the American and French revolutions, and have remained in tension ever since. By retracing these historical roots, the book sheds light on the contradiction inherent in democracy and its ever fragile nature.